Daughters should be using their time well and reading books is a wonderful way to learn more about godliness, character, life, homemaking, and so forth, but please, don’t just give your daughter just any kind of books. Be prayerful and selective about what kinds of books to give them. As a young girl I came across many books that were inappropriate, a waste of time, or just fed the flesh. Books have the power to influence and teach our children for good or evil so be sure of what you are placing in front of them. I make it a habit to always look/read through the books my children read so I know exactly what is being put in front of them.
Here are some recommended books for daughters that I have either had my daughters already read that I highly recommend or will have them read in the near future. They are not in any specific order:
The Bible
So Much More by Elizabeth and Anna Sofia Botkin
Raising Maidens of Virtue- Stacy McDonald
Polished Cornerstones-Doorposts
Lamplighter Books-various authors 19th century fiction includes a godly theme/character
Beautiful Girlhood-Mabel Hale
The Golden Gems of Life-SC Ferguson
Life of Faith Series
Elsie Dinsmore Series
The Lamplighter Series
Above Rubies Magazines by Nancy Campbell
Bible Doctrine/Theology
Stepping Heavenward-Elizabeth Prentiss
For Instruction in Righteousness-Doorposts
Christian Character-Gary Maldaner
Books on Christian Missionaries-various authors
The Hopechest-Rebekah Wilson
Homemaking and anything by JR Miller
Keepers at Home – Keepers of Faith
Foxes Book of Martyrs
Voice of the Martyrs Magazine
World Magazine
Creation Magazine
Passionate Housewives Desperate for God-Jennie Chancey and Stacy McDonald
The Courtship of Sarah McLean-Castleberry Farms Press
Jeff McLean: His Courtship-Castleberry Farms Press
Do Hard Things-Alex and Brett Harris
Start Here-Alex and Brett Harris
Before You Meet Prince Charming-Sarah Malley
I Kissed Dating Good-Bye-Joshua Harris
Noble Womanhood–Pearables 19th century writing
Little House on the Prairie Series
Daughters of Destiny-Noelle Goforth
The Kings Daughter and other choice stories
Mother-Kathleen Norris
Making Brothers and Sisters Best Friends-Sarah Malley
Ten P’s in a Pod-A. Pent
What He Must Be-If He Wants to Marry My Daughter-Voddie Baucham
The Excellent Wife-Martha Peace
Training Our Daughters to Be Keepers At Home-Ann Ward
Social Graces- Anne Platz
Rod and Staff Readers–Amish readers
The Moody Series- Sarah Maxwell
Choice Stories for Children-Ernest Lloyd
The Little Boy Down the Road- Doug Phillips
The Kathleen McKenzie Series
G.A. Henty Books–historical books for boys but also good for girls
My Mommy, My Teacher-Johannah Bluedorn
Christian Charm Course-Emily Hunter
When reading literature, occasionally you might run across undesirable topics. I always advise parents to use it as a tool to teach a biblical worldview. Some parents even make it a “game” or “challenge” to find areas in a book or piece of writing to note feminism, sin, agendas, fallacies in logic and so forth as they can make for excellent points of discussion.
Our daughters and sons are too precious to put just anything before their eyes. We must guide them to use their time wisely and reading good books is a wonderful way to do this while challenging the spirit. Let us all set an appreciation for high standards and quality literature for reading in our homes!
{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
I love this list! It is so helpful to me. Those books are going on my wish list!
I a probably a bit different to most readers as I am 24 and single but am trying to teach myself all the home making skills I am missing. I am starting from scratch really as it is in opposition to how I have been brought up. So I am trying to correct old habits while learning new ones!
I am hoping that with good resources and examples, like this site, I will learn not only the practical skills but also the important character traits.
angeljen
I would add the Anne of Green Gables books to the list. Lots of character in those as well as Little Women – excellent!
I would love to put in a plug for Sarah Maxwell’s series “The Moody’s”. They are stories the young girls can read with no examples of unGodly behaviours whatsoever.
LOVE this!
My sister and I have read many of these delightful and godly books! 
Good godly books really are very helpful in developing godly character and forming opinions and things about life. 
I wish I’d read more books like this when I was younger, instead of some of the youthful romancy kinds mixed in with the good stuff like this.
Sharing the link to this on our blog for young ladies!
God Bless!
~Miss Rachel~
P.S. – angeljen, I am 24 as well…it’s never too late to start my dear!
Enjoy the learning process! 
I would also add “Girl Talk” and “Feminine Appeal” from Carolyn Mahaney!
Some “just-for-fun” suggestions (some may appeal to boys and to adults, too):
The Peterkin Papers
anything by Carolyn Haywood
Roller Skates
If anyone needs help with needing/finding the link to one of these recommendations, let me know and I will be happy to post it for you.
The Narnia Series is also an excellent addition to a young woman’s library. I LOVE this list and will be referring back to it when my family asks what to get my daughter for Christmas and birthday gifts. Thank you Mrs. Fuentes
I’m bookmarking this one! I just found out today that we will be welcoming our first daughter sometime this December!
Congratulations! It is never too early to begin collecting for a child’s future library!
Oh, how lovely! I always enjoy getting new book ideas!
May I add some suggestions?
Authentic Beauty by Leslie Ludy
Set Apart Femininity by”
Sacred Singleness by ”
When God Writes Your Love Story by Eric and Leslie Ludy
(Any of the Ludy books really)
Through Christ,
B
Thank you sooo very much!!! I’ve been wondering what books would be wholesome and Godly for girls instead of vampires and werewolves.
I have a few thoughts about that myself. Not too long ago I did a “review” on Twilight giving a Christian mom’s perspective. My thoughts are the same for Moon and Eclipse. You can read it here:
http://proverbs14verse1.blogspot.com/2009/10/twilight-christian-moms-review.html
If you are looking for more wholesome books, movies and resources for the family, I highly recommend:
http://www.visionforum.com/
Hope this helps!
Many blessings…
Awesome list!! I have been looking for something like this, so thank you so much for sharing!
I love this list & have been often disappointed with recommended reading I find, as I don’t want any magic or anything like that. Mrs. June Fuentes, I know where to find some of these books (Elsie series, The Moody books), but can you share where to find the other ones? Thank you so much!
You have no idea what an answer to prayer this was!!! Last night, after spending the evening with a family who is having trouble with their almost 11 yo daughter, I was asked if I could mentor her. Since my DD has only just turned 9, I wasn’t quite sure what I should recommend she look at, AFA books and such go, to help her. I prayed last night about it, and this was most definitely an answer to prayer! A few of these I have, just didn’t think about, and the rest are easily picked up. Thank you SO much!!
Thank-you for the reading list. I was thinking of your blog a few days ago. I was teaching my 9 year old stepchild to sew. She was so excited. She tried to learn crochet from mom and she said it did not go very well. I had her sit down with me and taught her to sew. She created her first sewing project. She made a mini tooth fairy pillow. I have posted the pics on my blog @ http://www.mommiesandbeyond.com I am excited that she has enjoyed learning sewing. Big sister has learned to cross stitch during this visit and she has really been enjoying it. It made me think of raising homemakers. I want our girls to know that they can do or be anything that they wish. However, I think it is important for them to have life skills and home making skills for care of themselves and their future families! Thank-you for your wonderful blog!
http://www.pearables.com has some really great resources for both girls and boys. We have the Home Economics Vol. 1 that I have used with my 7 year old daughter. It is practical wisdom on how to keep a home, with easy lessons you and your daughter can read and do together — everything from learning how to cook, clean, organize, sew, etc… I LOVE this book. The lessons are written to the daughter and are fun to do. They have many other books that look wonderful as well. I am in no way affiliated with them, I’ve just been very, very happy with our Home Economic book! I highly recommend them!
While many of those books are wonderful, godly books, I think if that’s the only reading list that you select books off of for daughters that they will have a serious lapse in their education! What about classics like “Black Beauty” or “Oliver Twist”? What about historical fiction for older girls by authors like Brock and Bodie Thoene? I loved the American Girl historical fiction series when I was growing up and there are a lot of good moral lessons to be learned from those. There are so many other good books out there that don’t necessarily have “Christian” authors or that are about things other than homemaking or courtship. Those are certainly noble topics that should be taught and examined but…I think that a well-rounded, godly young lady should have OTHER things that they can intelligently converse about. How dull for her future husband to only be able to discuss homemaking and what the proper attributes of a godly young woman ought to be! While I think that there is a definite need for a return to more traditional family and individual dispositions, I don’t think that we should be craving a return to a time when women were told that they didn’t need to have a well-rounded education because they weren’t expected to be intelligent in areas outside of the home. I was expected, when growing up, to read good books and the Bible, but also to seek out education in any and all good directions that I felt led. As a result, my husband is blessed to be able to talk about a variety of subjects and topics with the woman who holds his heart- me. I not only hold his heart- I hold his attention and his respect for something that doesn’t get enough recognition by society- my BRAIN.
Dear Gretchen,
Thank you for commenting. I assure you that my daughters have read “Black Beauty” (one of their favorites) and “Oliver Twist”. They were not on this list for the sake of time/space and because I tried mainly to focus on books that would help girls in areas on godliness, character, vision for home and family, and homemaking since these can be harder to find.
I believe a young woman should always be in the process of educating herself–and that learning takes place over a lifetime. True wisdom and knowledge comes from the Lord, and that is why I have placed emphasis on godly literature. I wholeheartedly agree that a woman should be well-rounded educationally and never stated otherwise.
Hope this makes things clear…
I would really like age suggestions for each book. I have a young daughter who is advanced in reading. She loved the Kathleen McKenzie series and another series from the Life of Faith books. She has read the first three Elsie Dinsmore books, however, due to content, we are having her wait to read the remainder of the books. Being a mother of many children, there is no way I can possibly read every book before they do or to them.
What age levels would these various books be appropriate for, both in terms of able-to-read-words and able-to-understand-concepts?
I love this list!
Where can I find Noble Womanhood?
I will have to edit this list, the book is actually called True Womanhood. It also has a companion workbook and pearables.com sells it. I did not buy mine from the website though, I was fortunate to pick it up from a garage sale for next to nothing.
Since a few of you asked for age suggestions, I will try to list them–but keep in mind the uniqueness of each daughter regarding reading/comprehension abilities and maturity. What might be suitable for a teenager could also be appropriate for a preteen or younger depending upon the child. Moms, you know your children the best and I encourage you to look over the material to make the right decision for your sweet daughters.
The Bible (any age, can also be read to them)
Ages 5-9
My Mommy, My Teacher
God’s Wisdom for Little Girls (I am adding this to the list)
For younger girls 8-13
Little House on the Prairie
Kathleen McKenzie
Elsie Dinsmore (some might want to wait with the books that depict her as she grows older)
Life of Faith
The King’s Daughters and Other Choice Stories
Making Brothers and Sister’s Best Friends
Choice Stories for Children
The Moody Series
Rod and Staff Readers
Ten P’s in a Pod
Creation Magazine
World Magazine
Far Above Rubies Magazine
Lamplighters (some of them)
Books on Christian Missionaries
The rest of the list for older girls 13 years and above, although some older girls will also enjoy from the list above too if they have not read them. Books such as Christian Character, Polished Cornerstones, For Instruction in Righteousness and Training Your Daughters, etc. could be started earlier as mom see’s fit, she could customize it to her daughter.
The books on courtship and dating can be introduced when the parents feel their daughters are ready for or need to read the material. This will be different for every family.
There are so many great books out there–these are just a few off the top of my head.
Hope this helps…:)
Thanks so much. I’m going to copy this list to read with my daughter.
Just a question as I have a limited budget…I’ve been considering purchasing Polished Cornerstones for my girls, but also Keepers of the Home – is it redundant to buy both? How are they different?
Thanks for this list – so helpful!
Erin =)
Hi Erin,
Polished Cornerstones focuses their lessons around upon godly character. It is excellent and has a multitude of projects to pick from to encourage what they are trying to teach. You can get a discount from them using a Raising Homemakers here:
http://www.doorposts.com/homemakersblog.aspx
Training Our Daughters to be Keepers At Home-is a 7 year curriculum with the focus on teaching domestic arts and skills. There is also encouragement to live a godly life from an amish perspective.
If I had to choose one it would be Polished Cornerstones. But it depends on what you are looking for, much of the skills in TODTBKOH can be found at your local library such as sewing, canning, hospitality, etc.
Many blessings…
I could not agree more!!! And I am so thankful for your long list of suggestions. We are currently reading the Little House series…nearing the end! And I am almost finished re-reading Stepping Heavenward. The last time I read it I was in high school…reading it again, now as a married woman with children of my own has been absolutely wonderful!
What about boxcar books? My 8 year old daughter loves to read. She reads Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, Bobbsey Twins, & Boxcar books, as well as American Girl books. My husband and I have recently been discussing books, but honestly we can’t afford to buy alot of books new, so we use what our local library has. Does anyone have any input on these type of books?
Thank you for sharing these! So helpful! Even though this blog is for girls, I’d love to see a list for boys as well!
Great post….I am linking it on my blog!
Where’s the Harry Potter?
Thanks for this list! I will be buying books like these, a little bit at a time, and as the budget allows. May I also suggest books by Nancy Wilson of Canon Press? The only two I have actually read are Building her House and The Fruit of Her Hands. I really learned alot from them both and will be reading them over again soon to really drive home their messages. I would suggest these for older teens or girls who are ready for the issues within marriage.
roller skating is a very enjoying sports and past time too :
Thank for such a wonderful list!
We own Polished Cornerstones, but I was looking for advice regarding which skills based curriculum/information to add to it. What are the differences in Pearables Home Ec, Far Above Rubies, TODKAH & Keepers at Home? What are the strengths over buying one of these programs/books over the other?
Thank you again
In Him
Hello all, I went to the vision forum web site in search of the book Raising Maidens of Virtue (it was recommended by a friend) but they said it was not available. I was wondering if anyone had one I could borrow or buy? Please email me at marybeth74@windstream.net if you do…I sure would love to read with my daughter. Is there a similar book for boys? Thanks abd have a blesses day …… Beth
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